A national task force is being established to find ways to eliminate diesel power generation on remote First Nation communities.
Provincial and territorial energy and mines ministers meeting in Halifax decided that the reduction or elimination of diesel fuel would “reduce harmful emissions, strengthen local economies, and create well-paying jobs.”
A “Pan-Canadian Task Force” on the matter is being formed. Manitoba will chair the group with representation from each province and territory. They will prepare a report with recommendations on next steps.
There are about 175 Aboriginal off-grid communities of 130,000 people.
“Establishing this task force will allow us to share ideas and partner on projects that can help remote communities reduce their reliance on diesel fuel,” said Drew Campbell, Manitoba’s municipal government minister.
Earlier in the week, Newfoundland and Labrador decided to explore ways to sell power to Ontario.
A working group is being formed to study electricity trade that will involve exporting power to Ontario from the Muskrat Falls project on Labrador’s lower Churchill River and from Gull Island, the next major hydro project in that province. How that power would be transmitted to Ontario remains unclear.
